Looking for Saturday winners....

Friday, 17th January 2025

Looking for Saturday winners….

First off – if you missed my picks for this afternoon at Market Rasen & Windsor go here….

Second – look out for me tomorrow morning with selections for Windsor on Sunday….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the big weekend handicaps….

I’m on IWILLDOIT in the 2.30 at Haydock – he’s up at 8s & 15/2….

…. I’m on BAD at 7s & 13/2 in the 2.15 at Ascot….

…. and I’m on ASTON MARTINI at 20s in the 2.50 at Ascot….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below…. 

Read on….

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The Peter Marsh at Haydock (2.30) is an odd little race….

Several runners arrive with something to prove….

…. and to back any one them would require a leap of faith I simply can’t make….

Royale Pagaille loves Haydock – but he’s conceding lumps of weight off his mark of 166….

…. Mr Vango and Trelawne have both been both found in the market….

…. Richmond Lake steps all the way up to 3m2f – but his stamina for the trip is a big question mark given how he’s not been too strong at the death over shorter of late….

In the final assessment I’m kind of thrown together with IWILLDOIT at the general 8s & 15/2….

He might be a 12yo but he ran an absolute cracker last time out when third in the Welsh Grand National….

That race can leave a mark – and this might come too soon….

…. but he’s a consistent type and last year he ran as well as could be expected over 2m6f in the Fleur De Lys – up against it at the weights – off a similar break – after hitting the frame at Chepstow….

…. and he won’t mind the heavy ground….

BAD at the general 7s & 13/2 is the pick for the bet365 Handicap Chase at Ascot (2.15)….

He looked very much like the winner turning for home last time at Southwell – but got outstayed by a horse he was conceding almost a stone to….

He didn’t help himself – losing concentration when encountering a loose horse….

…. and it’s obviously the hope that tomorrow’s first-time blinkers assist with his focus….

He went through the line well enough and can win races off 125….

That said he runs off an effective mark of 130 tomorrow – he’s 5lb out of the handicap….

It’s become a bit of an unintentional theme this weekend – backing horses out of the handicap….

…. but I look at it as a 5lb rise for win he might well have logged last time….

…. and I’d expect there’s more to come yet….

This is a big step up in class and opposition – but it’s not the first time he’s been aimed at a big handicap pot….

….. he finished down the field in last season’s Imperial Cup – but was plenty fancied on the day….

Also worth noting – the last time this horse was fitted with first-time headgear he went very close in a good handicap at Ascot….

I’m having a swing of the bat in the Holloways Handicap Hurdle at Ascot (2.50)….

…. and backing the Nicky Henderson third-string ASTON MARTINI at the general 20s….

Her latest appearance came in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury – where she ran down the field….

They went too quick for her early doors – but she stayed on and the step back up in trip tomorrow is a much better platform for the 6yo and one more likely to produce a big run….

The time before she’d run well on seasonal debut at Bangor – chucking it away when she jinked and unbalanced her rider at the final flight….

The intention was/is to get some black type for this mare and she was slated to run in a Listed race on the abandoned card at Sandown in early January….

…. now she turns up here on a mark of 123 with Freddie Gordon taking off 3lb….

…. and she strikes as one that could outrun her price – from a nice mark with conditions to suit….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd